The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has confirmed Richard Thompson as its next chair, succeeding interim boss Martin Darlow next month.

The Surrey County Cricket Club chair will leave his current post to take up a five-year term on September 1 after he was unanimously recommended by the ECB's nominations committee.

"I am immensely proud to become Chair of the ECB at what is a hugely important time for cricket," Thompson stated.

"Cricket has given me the chance to meet an incredibly diverse range of amazing people. Their passion, endeavour and love for the game is what I want to harness, to take our game forward, to new heights.

"With the Ashes on the horizon, [the] ICC Men's T20 World Cup in October and the recent successes in our red ball game, along with hosting the ICC Women's T20 World Cup in 2026 there is much ahead of us."

The ECB's top position has been vacant since Ian Watmore stood down last October, with Barry O'Brien, and then Darlow, holding the job on an interim basis.

In the intervening period, the men's red-ball and white-ball teams have both seen a change of leadership, with Ben Stokes taking charge of the Test team and Jos Buttler handed the armband in T20 and ODI matches.

The former will play South Africa in a three-match series later this month, while the latter will step up their World Cup preparations against Pakistan in September.